Lord, it's likely that sometime today someone will push my buttons challenge my good will misread my intentions tick me off try my patience rattle my cage judge me in haste test my kindness or do all of the above. Give me the ability to be open to the life I am leading not the one I am planning to lead. Help that desire sink deeply enough into my being for me to actually change and to say "no" to a least one worthy, but not urgent, task today. Holy and perfect God, you know I want to be available. Give us ways to refrain from the busyness that will put us on edge and off center, give us today your peace. Lift from us our need to achieve all that we can be and instead, surrender to what you can be in us. Help us to stand before all that we could do and seek what you would do, and do that. God, who is more than we can ever comprehend, help us to seek you, and you alone. But I’ve heard that someone, walking in this way, has seen a burning bush. There’s no telling what will happen then. Then we can begin to dump the thousand things we’ve brought along until even the camel has to go and we’re walking barefoot on the desert sand. The first thing we have to do is to notice that we’ve loaded down this camel with so much baggage we’ll never get through the desert alive. Offered by Dave Johnson and Kyra Shahid Written by Orin L. Slow me down, Lord, And inspire me to send my roots deep Into the soil of life's enduring values That I may grow toward the stars Of our greater destiny. Let me look upward Into the branches of the towering oak And know that it grew great and strong Because it grew slowly and well. Remind me each day That the race is not always won by the swift That there is more to life Than increasing its speed. Help me to know The magical power of sleep, Teach me the art Of taking minute vacations Of slowing down To look at a flower To chat with an old friend Or make a new one To pet a dog To watch a spider build a web To smile at a child Or to read a few lines from a good book. Break the tensions of my nerves With the soothing music Of the singing streams That live in my memory. Give me, Amidst the confusions of my day, The calmness of the everlasting hills. Steady my harried pace With a vision of the eternal reach of time. Slow me down, Lord! Ease the pounding of my heart By the quieting of my mind. Offered by Greg Christopher Slow Me Down Please make us strong through your favor and grace. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear your voice and then make our footsteps firm. Please bring to fulfillment all that you have given us to do in the weeks ahead. We also ask for your face to shine on us – individually, and as a team of colleagues and partners. We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your path – a path that you have blessed. As we scan our personal horizons, we know that we also must look to you alone for the power and possibility that is our future. Thank you for being the one who gives us the strength to help each other and to see distinctly the choices we face. We know that it’s often in the most challenging times that you are most at work. So today Lord, we purposefully, even urgently, say again that we choose to believe in you. When we are struggling to see clearly and make decisions, we are not alone and that inner peace is something only you can supply. Isaiah 55:8 reminds us that our thoughts are not your thoughts – and that our ways are not your ways. Today, we pause and remind ourselves of our dependency on you, for we know in our hearts that our circumstances and futures are touched by your hands. It’s difficult to fully let go of our anxiety, or the world around us when we can’t see evidence of all that you’re doing – when we can’t understand or see your purpose or plan. Speak your love Speak it again Speak it still again Speak it still once again. Take up arms against malice Decry complacency Express your gratitude Worship your God Gladden the heart of a child Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth Try to understand Flout envy Examine your demands on others Think first of someone else Appreciate, be kind, be gentle Laugh a little more. Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed Keep a promise Find the time Forego a grudge Forgive an enemy Listen Apologize if you were wrong Mend a quarrel Search out a forgotten friend Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust Write a love letter Share some treasures Give a soft answer Encourage youth
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